Healthy Living

Dr. William Grant on Bolstering Health Through Sunlight and Vitamin D, Part 2 of 3

Episode

“There are many benefits of sunlight and being in nature. People can have reduced risk of Seasonal Affective Disorder with more UV exposure from (sun) lamps or from taking more vitamin D. Vitamin D has been found to reduce the risk of depression. There has also been studies showing that vitamin D during pregnancy helps increase serotonin levels during pregnancy and that the offspring then have better serotonin production and that serotonin is linked to the risk of autism. Sunlight and Vitamin D can reduce the risk of developing Alzheimer’s and other dementia.” Animal products are also a risk factor for developing dementia. Dr. Grant explains. “The countries with the highest meat or other animal product consumption had the highest rates of Alzheimer’s and that was about 6% or 7% of the senior population, age-adjusted. Whereas the countries that had very little meat and (ate) mainly grains, and so on, had about 1 or 2%.”